by Mia Taylor
Last updated: 11:10 AM ET, Tue July 21, 2026
Hosting World Cup 2026 events has turned out to be a win-win-win for the United States.
A new poll released by the U.S. Travel Association shows that serving as one of three countries to host the just-concluded World Cup not only strengthened national pride, but also underscored the importance of welcoming international visitors and built support for hosting more global events.
In particular, more than four in five Americans (81%) said watching international visitors enjoy the nation's communities, culture and attractions made them feel proud and 86% said it brought them genuine joy. Additionally, four in five Americans (81%) also believe it's important that international travelers have a positive experience while visiting the United States.
“The World Cup reintroduced America to the world. Our best ambassadors
aren’t politicians or headlines—they’re the Americans visitors met, the
communities they explored and the people who made them feel welcome.
That’s a win for every American,” Geoff Freeman, president and CEO of
the U.S. Travel Association, said in a statement.
The World Cup 2026 was hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico and ran from June 11 through July 19. A new report from Bank of America revealed that the event injected $20 billion into the U.S. economy alone. Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan said that money went directly to Main Street America.
“It's having this on-the-ground economic impact,” Moynihan said on Face the Nation.
“Spending is going into what we call bricks-and-mortars - going to bars
and restaurants and things like that - not necessarily only the people
in the stadium.”
In response to the success of the globally popular event, CEOs of America's largest travel companies issued an open letter thanking Americans for helping to deliver such a smashing success. The letter, published in the Wall Street Journal and led by U.S. Travel National Chair and MGM CEO and President Bill Hornbuckle, also calls for continued collaboration ahead of the 2028 Olympics and other major global events.
"Millions of visitors came to the United States for the 2026 World Cup and found a country that welcomed them: in stadiums and small businesses, at airports and on front porches, in cities that hosted matches, and in towns that never expected a single visitor but received thousands," said the letter.
Additional findings from the U.S. Travel Association survey, which was conducted from June 26–28 and involved more than 2,000 Americans, include:
- 70% of Americans believe the United States should pursue more major international events like the World Cup, Olympics and World Fair.
- When asked why it’s important that international tourists have a positive experience in the U.S., the top responses were that: It reflects positively on America’s reputation (61%), it helps keep America safe by building goodwill and cooperation with other countries (50%); visitors spend money supporting American businesses and workers (43%)
- By a 3-to-1 margin, Americans say visiting the United States provides
international travelers with a more accurate picture of American culture
than what they see through social media or traditional news.
- 50% of
Americans, and even more in World Cup host cities, believe the best way
to understand the country is to experience it firsthand.
Protecting continued momentum
As
part of the U.S. Travel Association survey, Americans also expressed
concern about policies threatened by the Trump Administration that could
undermine the progress made during the World Cup, including proposals
like the Trump Administration’s new $250 entry fee and expanded social
media screening for international visitors.
“More Americans believe
restricting or complicating international arrivals in World Cup host
cities would hurt local businesses and communities than believe it would
help, a signal that the public recognizes the value international
visitors bring and doesn't want to see new barriers put in their way,”
the association said in a statement.
Freeman added that: ”The World
Cup showed what's possible when America welcomes the world. Now the
challenge is making sure we keep our foot on the pedal—not create
obstacles that deter the visitors we want to attract."
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